Through the CAREX project, we have tested a series of practical tools, and developed solutions an... more Through the CAREX project, we have tested a series of practical tools, and developed solutions and approaches to address aquatic weed, sediment, and nutrient management issues in agricultural waterways in lowland Canterbury. We have developed a set of steps and toolboxes, underpinned by science, which can be applied by farmers, landowners and stakeholders to facilitate rehabilitation and improve agricultural waterway health.This handout is the fourth a series, which focuses on an edge-of-field tool to manage nutrients (nitrate).<br><br>Suggested citation: Goeller, B.C, Hogsden, K.L., Febria, C.M., Devlin, H.S., Collins, K.E., Harding, J.S., and A.M. McIntosh. 2018. Nutrients – Edge-of-field nitrate reduction with woodchip bioreactors, CAREX Toolbox Handout 4, University of Canterbury, Christchurch.<br>
Through the CAREX project, we have tested a series of practical tools, and developed solutions an... more Through the CAREX project, we have tested a series of practical tools, and developed solutions and approaches to address aquatic weed, sediment, and nutrient management issues in agricultural waterways in lowland Canterbury.We have developed a set of steps and toolboxes, underpinned by science, which can be applied by farmers, landowners and stakeholders to facilitate rehabilitation and improve agricultural waterway health.This handout provides examples of the steps taken and tools used to restore two agricultural waterways in lowland Canterbury as part of the CAREX project. <br><br>Suggested citation: Febria, C.M., Hogsden, K.L., Devlin, H.S., Collins, K.E., Goeller, B.C. Harding, J.S. and A.M. McIntosh. 2018. Restoration in Action, CAREX Toolbox Handout, University of Canterbury, Christchurch.<br>
Through the CAREX project, we have tested a series of practical tools, and developed solutions an... more Through the CAREX project, we have tested a series of practical tools, and developed solutions and approaches to address aquatic weed, sediment, and nutrient management issues in agricultural waterways in lowland Canterbury.We have developed a set of steps and toolboxes, underpinned by science, which can be applied by farmers, landowners and stakeholders to facilitate rehabilitation and improve agricultural waterway health.This handout is the sixth in a series, which provides information on rebattering as a tool to stop sediments at the source and stabilise banks.<br><br>Suggested citation: Harding, J.S.,Hogsden, K.L.,Febria, C.M., Devlin, H.S., Collins, K.E., Goeller, B.C. and A.M. McIntosh. 2018. Rebattering, CAREX Toolbox Handout 6, University of Canterbury, Christchurch.<br>
Page 1. Freshwater Biology (1999) 42, 345-357 APPLIED ISSUES Changes in agricultural intensity an... more Page 1. Freshwater Biology (1999) 42, 345-357 APPLIED ISSUES Changes in agricultural intensity and river health along a river continuum JON S. HARDING, ROGER G. YOUNG, JOHN W. HAYES, KAREN A. SHEARER AND ...
Globally benthic invertebrate biotic indices are widely used to assess stream health. In New Zeal... more Globally benthic invertebrate biotic indices are widely used to assess stream health. In New Zealand, the response of biotic indices to high nitrate-nitrogen (hereafter nitrate) concentrations has not been rigorously tested. We conducted a field survey of benthic invertebrates in 41 lowland intensively farmed Canterbury streams representing a wide nitrate gradient (0.4–11.3 mg/l) to determine if biotic indices respond in a predictable manner to increasing nitrate (e.g. show a subsidy stress response). Our results show commonly used biotic indices were not able to detect any effects of high nitrate. We found homogenous and tolerant benthic invertebrate communities dominated and suggest the lack of any detected effects may be because taxa sensitive to nutrients have already been lost from these systems. Therefore, we recommend caution is needed when using biotic indices in lowland agricultural streams where nutrients may be high.
In Aotearoa New Zealand, agricultural land-use intensification and decline in freshwater ecosyste... more In Aotearoa New Zealand, agricultural land-use intensification and decline in freshwater ecosystem integrity pose complex challenges for science and society. Despite riparian management programmes across the country, there is frustration over a lack in widespread uptake, upfront financial costs, possible loss in income, obstructive legislation and delays in ecological recovery. Thus, social, economic and institutional barriers exist when implementing and assessing agricultural freshwater restoration. Partnerships are essential to overcome such barriers by identifying and promoting co-benefits that result in amplifying individual efforts among stakeholder groups into coordinated, large-scale change. Here, we describe how initial progress by a sole farming family at the Silverstream in the Canterbury region, South Island, New Zealand, was used as a catalyst for change by the Canterbury Waterway Rehabilitation Experiment, a university-led restoration research project. Partners included farmers, researchers, government, industry, treaty partners (Indigenous rights-holders) and practitioners. Local capacity and capability was strengthened with practitioner groups, schools and the wider community. With partnerships in place, co-benefits included lowered costs involved with large-scale actions (e.g., earth moving), reduced pressure on individual farmers to undertake large-scale change (e.g., increased participation and engagement), while also legitimising the social contracts for farmers, scientists, government and industry to engage in farming and freshwater management. We describe contributions and benefits generated from the project and describe iterative actions that together built trust, leveraged and aligned opportunities. These actions were scaled from a single farm to multiple catchments nationally.
Rivers suffer from multiple stressors acting simultaneously on their biota, but the consequences ... more Rivers suffer from multiple stressors acting simultaneously on their biota, but the consequences are poorly quantified at the global scale. We evaluated the biological condition of rivers globally, including the largest proportion of countries from the Global South published to date. We gathered macroinvertebrate‐ and fish‐based assessments from 72,275 and 37,676 sites, respectively, from 64 study regions across six continents and 45 nations. Because assessments were based on differing methods, different systems were consolidated into a 3‐class system: Good, Impaired, or Severely Impaired, following common guidelines. The proportion of sites in each class by study area was calculated and each region was assigned a Köppen‐Geiger climate type, Human Footprint score (addressing landscape alterations), Human Development Index (HDI) score (addressing social welfare), % rivers with good ambient water quality, % protected freshwater key biodiversity areas; and % of forest area net change rate. We found that 50% of macroinvertebrate sites and 42% of fish sites were in Good condition, whereas 21% and 29% were Severely Impaired, respectively. The poorest biological conditions occurred in Arid and Equatorial climates and the best conditions occurred in Snow climates. Severely Impaired conditions were associated (Pearson correlation coefficient) with higher HDI scores, poorer physico‐chemical water quality, and lower proportions of protected freshwater areas. Good biological conditions were associated with good water quality and increased forested areas. It is essential to implement statutory bioassessment programs in Asian, African, and South American countries, and continue them in Oceania, Europe, and North America. There is a need to invest in assessments based on fish, as there is less information globally and fish were strong indicators of degradation. Our study highlights a need to increase the extent and number of protected river catchments, preserve and restore natural forested areas in the catchments, treat wastewater discharges, and improve river connectivity.
Through the CAREX project, we have tested a series of practical tools, and developed solutions an... more Through the CAREX project, we have tested a series of practical tools, and developed solutions and approaches to address aquatic weed, sediment, and nutrient management issues in agricultural waterways in lowland Canterbury. We have developed a set of steps and toolboxes, underpinned by science, which can be applied by farmers, landowners and stakeholders to facilitate rehabilitation and improve agricultural waterway health.This handout is the fourth a series, which focuses on an edge-of-field tool to manage nutrients (nitrate).<br><br>Suggested citation: Goeller, B.C, Hogsden, K.L., Febria, C.M., Devlin, H.S., Collins, K.E., Harding, J.S., and A.M. McIntosh. 2018. Nutrients – Edge-of-field nitrate reduction with woodchip bioreactors, CAREX Toolbox Handout 4, University of Canterbury, Christchurch.<br>
Through the CAREX project, we have tested a series of practical tools, and developed solutions an... more Through the CAREX project, we have tested a series of practical tools, and developed solutions and approaches to address aquatic weed, sediment, and nutrient management issues in agricultural waterways in lowland Canterbury.We have developed a set of steps and toolboxes, underpinned by science, which can be applied by farmers, landowners and stakeholders to facilitate rehabilitation and improve agricultural waterway health.This handout provides examples of the steps taken and tools used to restore two agricultural waterways in lowland Canterbury as part of the CAREX project. <br><br>Suggested citation: Febria, C.M., Hogsden, K.L., Devlin, H.S., Collins, K.E., Goeller, B.C. Harding, J.S. and A.M. McIntosh. 2018. Restoration in Action, CAREX Toolbox Handout, University of Canterbury, Christchurch.<br>
Through the CAREX project, we have tested a series of practical tools, and developed solutions an... more Through the CAREX project, we have tested a series of practical tools, and developed solutions and approaches to address aquatic weed, sediment, and nutrient management issues in agricultural waterways in lowland Canterbury.We have developed a set of steps and toolboxes, underpinned by science, which can be applied by farmers, landowners and stakeholders to facilitate rehabilitation and improve agricultural waterway health.This handout is the sixth in a series, which provides information on rebattering as a tool to stop sediments at the source and stabilise banks.<br><br>Suggested citation: Harding, J.S.,Hogsden, K.L.,Febria, C.M., Devlin, H.S., Collins, K.E., Goeller, B.C. and A.M. McIntosh. 2018. Rebattering, CAREX Toolbox Handout 6, University of Canterbury, Christchurch.<br>
Page 1. Freshwater Biology (1999) 42, 345-357 APPLIED ISSUES Changes in agricultural intensity an... more Page 1. Freshwater Biology (1999) 42, 345-357 APPLIED ISSUES Changes in agricultural intensity and river health along a river continuum JON S. HARDING, ROGER G. YOUNG, JOHN W. HAYES, KAREN A. SHEARER AND ...
Globally benthic invertebrate biotic indices are widely used to assess stream health. In New Zeal... more Globally benthic invertebrate biotic indices are widely used to assess stream health. In New Zealand, the response of biotic indices to high nitrate-nitrogen (hereafter nitrate) concentrations has not been rigorously tested. We conducted a field survey of benthic invertebrates in 41 lowland intensively farmed Canterbury streams representing a wide nitrate gradient (0.4–11.3 mg/l) to determine if biotic indices respond in a predictable manner to increasing nitrate (e.g. show a subsidy stress response). Our results show commonly used biotic indices were not able to detect any effects of high nitrate. We found homogenous and tolerant benthic invertebrate communities dominated and suggest the lack of any detected effects may be because taxa sensitive to nutrients have already been lost from these systems. Therefore, we recommend caution is needed when using biotic indices in lowland agricultural streams where nutrients may be high.
In Aotearoa New Zealand, agricultural land-use intensification and decline in freshwater ecosyste... more In Aotearoa New Zealand, agricultural land-use intensification and decline in freshwater ecosystem integrity pose complex challenges for science and society. Despite riparian management programmes across the country, there is frustration over a lack in widespread uptake, upfront financial costs, possible loss in income, obstructive legislation and delays in ecological recovery. Thus, social, economic and institutional barriers exist when implementing and assessing agricultural freshwater restoration. Partnerships are essential to overcome such barriers by identifying and promoting co-benefits that result in amplifying individual efforts among stakeholder groups into coordinated, large-scale change. Here, we describe how initial progress by a sole farming family at the Silverstream in the Canterbury region, South Island, New Zealand, was used as a catalyst for change by the Canterbury Waterway Rehabilitation Experiment, a university-led restoration research project. Partners included farmers, researchers, government, industry, treaty partners (Indigenous rights-holders) and practitioners. Local capacity and capability was strengthened with practitioner groups, schools and the wider community. With partnerships in place, co-benefits included lowered costs involved with large-scale actions (e.g., earth moving), reduced pressure on individual farmers to undertake large-scale change (e.g., increased participation and engagement), while also legitimising the social contracts for farmers, scientists, government and industry to engage in farming and freshwater management. We describe contributions and benefits generated from the project and describe iterative actions that together built trust, leveraged and aligned opportunities. These actions were scaled from a single farm to multiple catchments nationally.
Rivers suffer from multiple stressors acting simultaneously on their biota, but the consequences ... more Rivers suffer from multiple stressors acting simultaneously on their biota, but the consequences are poorly quantified at the global scale. We evaluated the biological condition of rivers globally, including the largest proportion of countries from the Global South published to date. We gathered macroinvertebrate‐ and fish‐based assessments from 72,275 and 37,676 sites, respectively, from 64 study regions across six continents and 45 nations. Because assessments were based on differing methods, different systems were consolidated into a 3‐class system: Good, Impaired, or Severely Impaired, following common guidelines. The proportion of sites in each class by study area was calculated and each region was assigned a Köppen‐Geiger climate type, Human Footprint score (addressing landscape alterations), Human Development Index (HDI) score (addressing social welfare), % rivers with good ambient water quality, % protected freshwater key biodiversity areas; and % of forest area net change rate. We found that 50% of macroinvertebrate sites and 42% of fish sites were in Good condition, whereas 21% and 29% were Severely Impaired, respectively. The poorest biological conditions occurred in Arid and Equatorial climates and the best conditions occurred in Snow climates. Severely Impaired conditions were associated (Pearson correlation coefficient) with higher HDI scores, poorer physico‐chemical water quality, and lower proportions of protected freshwater areas. Good biological conditions were associated with good water quality and increased forested areas. It is essential to implement statutory bioassessment programs in Asian, African, and South American countries, and continue them in Oceania, Europe, and North America. There is a need to invest in assessments based on fish, as there is less information globally and fish were strong indicators of degradation. Our study highlights a need to increase the extent and number of protected river catchments, preserve and restore natural forested areas in the catchments, treat wastewater discharges, and improve river connectivity.
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